Volume 3 Number 3 Article 11

1976

Finder of the Welsh Gods Finder of the Welsh Gods

Dainis Bisenieks

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Bisenieks, Dainis (1976) "Finder of the Welsh Gods," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 3 : No. 3 , Article 11. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol3/iss3/11

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Abstract Abstract Discusses the fantasies of Kenneth Morris based on Welsh mythology.

Additional Keywords Additional Keywords Fantasy literature—Welsh influences; Morris, Kenneth. Book of the Three Dragons; Morris, Kenneth. The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed; Morris, Kenneth. The Secret Mountain; Edith Crowe; Annette Harper

This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol3/iss3/11

Finderof the

W e l sh G o d s

BY

D a in is B isen iek s

A FORGOTTEN FANTASIST in d e e d i s K enneth M o r r is , a u th o r o f two lo n g p r o s e w orks and a book o f s t o r i e s . L i t t l e can be re c o rd e d o f him e x c e p t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n s - - h e a p p e a rs o n th e sc e n e in E ngland in 1909, when he w ro te an i n t r o ­

d u c t io n t o M rs. A n n ie B e sa n t and th e M oral Code b y J o s e p h H. F u s s e l l , a p o le m ic a l p am p h le t sp o n so re d by K a th e r in e T in g le y .A few y e a r s l a t e r he s tu d i e d a t t h e T h e o so p h ic a l com m unity a t P o in t Loma, C a l i f o r n i a , fo u n d ed by M rs. T in g le y , w here in 1914 h i s book The F a te s o f th e P r in c e s o f D yfed was i s s u e d u n d e r th e im p r in t o f th e A ryan T h e o so p h ic a l P r e s s . ( I t s emblem, i n th o s e d e a r d ead in n o c e n t d a y s , in c lu d e d b o th a S h ie ld o f D avid and a S w a s tik a .) I t i s b ased on th e F i r s t B ranch o f t h e M abinogi and th e name t h a t a p p e a rs on i t i s Cenydd M o ru s--a W elsh form o f h i s name. The s t o r i e s in The S e c r e t M oun ta in (L ondon, 1926) a r e p a r t l y on W elsh th e m e s , and h i s l a s t p u b l i s h e d b o o k , Book o f th e T h ree D ragons (New Y ork, 1 9 3 0 ), c o n t in u e s a b ra n c h o f th e o th e r lo n g t a l e . T h is l a s t had a w id e r p u b l i c a s a J u n io r L i t e r a r y G u ild s e l e c t i o n and g o t some good r e v ie w s , b u t t h a t i s th e l a s t we h e a r o f Mr, M o r r is . L in C a r t e r r e p r i n t e d a p a r t o f th e l a s t b ook , U r s u la Le Guin spoke w e l l o f i t , I ch eck e d some s ta n d a rd r e f e r e n c e w o rk s , and so i t was my f a t e to r e c o g n iz e th e "M orus" book on a b o o k s to r e s h e l f .

I t i s th e work o f a b e l i e v e r who i s f o r t u n a t e l y a good s t o r y t e l l e r . One may be sh y o f th e o so p h y and i t s v o c a b u la r y —I d o n 't l i k e m aking u t t e r a n c e s a b o u t th e s o u l o f m a n --b u t I a g re e a s w e l l a s an u n b e l ie v e r may w ith h i s id e a s on th e u s e s o f myth and s t o r y , s e t f o r t h i n an i n t e r e s t i n g p r e f a c e . M o rris c la im s th e r i g h t t o rew o rk h i s s o u r c e s , a s d id g e n e r a t io n s o f b a rd s b e f o re th e t a l e s w ere w r i t t e n down: t h e r e i s n o th in gs a c ro s a n c t a b o u t th e s e v e r s i o n s . S c h o la r s a g re e t h a t t h e i r c h a r a c t e r s w ere once g o d s , and M o rr is h a s r e s t o r e d godhead to them , so t h a t t h e t a l e s may work on u s a s he b e l i e v e s th e y sh o u ld . "The d e e p e s t t r u t h s o f r e l i g i o n and p h ilo s o p h y had t h e i r f i r s t r e c o r d in g f o r th e i n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e p e o p le s , n o t in th e form o f t r e a t i s e , e s s a y o r d i s q u i s i t i o n , b u t a s e p i c s , s a g a s , and s t o r i e s . " And th e s e " d id n o t se e k to t e l l you t h in g s ABOUT th e s o u l . . .b u t to p r e s e n t in g r e a t p i c t u r e s t h a t s o u l i t s e l f . . . . "

M o rris b e l i e v e d th e t r u e f u n c t io n o f Romance t o be " to p r o ­c la im i n d e s t r u c t i b l e t r u t h in te rm s o f th e im a g in a t io n ," and t h i s t r u t h was o f th e upw ard jo u rn e y o f th e s o u l , " t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f th e d iv in e to t h e p e r s o n a l p r i n c i p l e in m an ." The Gods p ro p o se to t e s t P w yll P r in c e o f D yfed , s e e k in g t o make him one o f them . The t e s t i n g o f P w yll and o f h i s son P r y d e r i , known a l s o a s Gwri G w allt E u ryn , i s t h e m a t te r o f t h i s t a l e .

As f o r t h e G ods, M o rr is r e l i e s on h i s i n t u i t i o n t o e x t r a c t t h e i r names and n a tu r e s from th e rem n an ts o f W elsh l o r e . He f in d s n o th in g num inous i n names l i k e T e u ta te s and T a ra n n is , known from i n s c r i p t i o n s in Roman G au l. But " P le n y d d , Alawn and G w ro n --th e L ig h t - b r in g e r , th e Lord o f H arm on ies, th e H e a r te n e r o f H e ro e s— th e y form so p e r f e c t a sym bol o f pow ers t h a t l i e l a ­t e n t in o u r s e lv e s and in t h e u n iv e r s e , t h a t i f th e y w ere in v e n ­te d by Io lo Morganwg o r [ o t h e r s ] , one w ould sa y th e in v e n t io n was r a t h e r a d is c o v e ry : t h a t th e y w ere Gods and W elsh Gods b e ­f o r e th o s e men w ere b o rn ...No m a t te r w h e th e r su c h names a r e a n c i e n t , m e d ie v a l , o r c o m p a ra t iv e ly m odern; one would h av e been p u t to i t t o in v e n t them o n e s e l f i f one had n o t found them re a d y to h a n d ." A f a m i l i a r id e a : i f God d id n o t e x i s t , one would have to in v e n t Him! In v e n to r i s " f i n d e r " . . .

The id e a a b o u t names so unds f a m i l i a r , to o . I h av e o f t e n been annoyed a t p a t e n t l y c o n t r iv e d names i n f a n t a s y s t o r i e s : i n t u i t i o n seem s t o work so much b e t t e r th a n in v e n t io n . In U rsu la Le G u in 's E a r th s e a b o o k s , a b e in g can be known th ro u g h h i s t r u e name, and sh e sa y s sh e l i s t e n e d f o r and FOUND th e names in th e t a l e s and m aps. Those s c o re d w ith me n e a r l y 100%, and th e names and e p i t h e t s g iv e n by M o rr is in d e e d su g g e s t gods t h a t w ere t r u l y b e l i e v e d in . I d o u b t, th o u g h , w h e th e r th e D ru id ic f a i t h was e v e r a s c o n s i s t e n t a s t h i s .

" I n a p o l y t h e i s t s o c i e t y , " w ro te W.H. A uden, " th e a r t i s t s a r e i t s t h e o l o g i a n s . " The s a c re d i s s e l f - e v i d e n t t o t h e im a g in ­

a t i o n , and so i s t h e g o d l ik e o r h e r o i c man. T h is a c c o rd s p e r ­f e c t l y w ith M o r r i s 's th e o r y and p r a c t i c e . So , Arawn King o f Annwn i s d e s c r ib e d in t h e s e w o rd s: "Y et a d i g n i t y a k in t o t h a to f t h e Im m orta l K in d red was upon h im , and i t was t o b e s e e n t h a t k in g s w ould obey when h e com m anded." But Auden g o es on t o sa y t h a t "T he I n c a r n a t io n . . .p u t s an end t o a l l c la im s o f th e im a g in a ­t i o n t o be t h e f a c u l t y w h ich d e c id e s w hat i s t r u l y s a c re d and w hat i s p r o f a n e . " (The D y e r 's Hand: " C h r is t ia n ity a n d A r t" ) G o d 's work on E a r th i s no lo n g e r done by men whose h e r o i c q u a l i ­t i e s a r e m a n if e s t t o t h e im a g in a t io n . A C h r i s t i a n w i l l i n any e v e n t d i s b e l i e v e M o r r i s 's c la im s t o h av e le a r n e d from th e th e o - s o p h i s t s t h e " in w a rd l a w s . . .a t t h e h e a r t o f a l l t r u e r e l i g i o n ; w hich p ro c la im ... t h a t t h a t w h ich i s now human sh o u ld be made more th a n human, d i v i n e . " He w i l l n o t h eed th e " tru m p e t c a l l t o t h e D iv in e in each o f u s . . . t h e D ragon War s h o u t o f t h e a g e s . " But th e im a g in a t io n re m a in s a n a t u r a l human f a c u l t y ; T o lk ie n i n b o th p a r t s o f T re e and L e a f r e c o n c i l e d th e g r a s s h o p p e r and th e a n t — so one c o u ld sp e a k o f t h e h e a r t e n in g pow er o f a r t ( i n c lu d in g h e r o i c f a n t a s y ) w hich e n a b le s man t o b e a r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w ith g r a c e . One may l i s t e n t o t h a t tru m p e t c a l l b u t n o t m arch o f f to i t .

THE COUNCIL OF THE IMMORTALS s e t s t h e e v e n ts o f t h i s t a l e i n m o tio n ; by t h e i r d o in g P w yll P r in c e o f D yfed p u r s u e s

___a s t a g t o t h e s h o re o f a la k e w here he m e e ts Arawn, Kingo f Annwn in t h e U n d erw o rld . T h e i r com pact t o ch an g e p l a c e s u n ­t i l P w yll s h a l l k i l l H afgan i s a s t o l d i n t h e F i r s t B ran ch , and so i s t h e com ing o f R hianon th e d a u g h te r o f H efey d d . But th e m a g ic a l h i l l o f G orsedd A r b e r th , w h ich i n t h e o r i g i n a l i s s im p ly t h e r e , i s h e r e m a n if e s te d t o m o r ta l e y e s o n ly a f t e r P w y l l 's r e t u r n . The m a rv e ls i n M o r r i s 's t a l e a r e a l l c h a rg e d w ith s i g ­n i f i c a n c e . The H i l l o f t h e Im m o rta ls i s f o r t h e t e s t i n g o f men. R h ian o n , who a p p e a rs t o P w yll a f t e r he t a k e s h i s s e a t on th e h i l l , p ro m is e s him an im m o rta l d e s t i n y i f he w i l l b u t f o l lo w h e r c o u n s e l . The t h i r d t im e h e m ig h t d is o b e y , l o s s and so rro w and lo n g w a n d e r in g s w ould b e f o r him : and so i t p r o v e s .

The f i r s t t im e he f a i l s i s a t t h e w edding f e a s t a t H e fe y d d 's c o u r t , when he p ro m is e s t o a n o b le s t r a n g e r t o g r a n t any r e q u e s t ; i n r e s p o n s e Gwawl th e Son o f C lud c la im s R hianon from h im . The o n ly in s t r u m e n t o f b r e a k in g t h i s f a t e i s th e B a sk e t o f Gwaeddfyd Newynog; he h a s a y e a r and a day t o o b t a in i t . In t h e o r i g i n a l , t h e b a s k e t , w i th a d v ic e on i t s u s e , was s im p ly g iv e n b y R h ian o n ; h e r e i t becom es th e o b j e c t o f a q u e s t , w i th t h e w e l l known p a t ­t e r n o f two f a i l u r e s and a s u c c e s s . Time i s ru n n in g s h o r t when P w yll and h i s men m eet an o ld man by h i s d e s o l a t e c o t t a g e and a r e a sk ed t o p e rfo rm some s e r v i c e s . F irew ood f i r s t : t h e h ead o f P w y l l 's H undred o f f e r s t o f e t c h some i n th e o ld m a n 's b a s k e t from th e F o r e s t o f C e ly d d o n . But no m a t te r how much i s p u t i n , th e b a s k e t i s n o t f u l l ; t a k in g th e wrong a d v ic e , he stam p s down th e c o n te n t s and i s sw allow ed u p . A se co n d g o es t o g a th e r r u s h e s and m eets t h e same f a t e ; f i n a l l y P w yll h im s e l f g o es f o r t h e g o ld e n a p p le s o f th e O rch a rd o f C e lyddon and r e t u r n s s u c c e s s f u l l y . Re­f u s in g o th e r g i f t s , he i s g iv e n th e b a s k e t and a f u l l know ledge o f i t s " p e c u l i a r i t i e s " — a p a r t o f M o r r i s 's id io m i n t h i s book .

The la n g u a g e o u g h t t o be d e s c r ib e d : i t can b e s e e n a s C e l­t i c i n i n s p i r a t i o n . The i n c i d e n t s a r e e l a b o r a t e d from th e b a ld and u n c o n v in c in g n a r r a t i v e o f th e M ab in o g io n — w ith d ia lo g u e , w i th d e s c r i p t i o n s o f s c e n e s , o f men and h o r s e s and t h e i r t r a p p i n g s .The la n g u a g e i s m a g n ilo q u e n t, som etim es f lo w e ry ; a t t im e s s u p e r ­l a t i v e s a r e p i l e d on s u p e r l a t i v e s i n t h e C e l t i c f a s h io n , and com­p a r a t i v e s upon c o m p a ra t iv e s : "The s m a l l e s t o f them was h u g e r o fs t a t u r e th a n t h e k i n g 's h e i r had b e e n ; t h e p o o r e s t i n ado rnm en t sh o n e m ore r e s p l e n d e n t l y . " T h is s o r t o f o v e r to p p in g w i l l go th ro u g h s e v e r a l s t a g e s in t h e t im e -h o n o re d m anner. A t s e r io u s moments p o e t r y a p p e a r s , i n p r a i s e u s u a l ly o f t h e Gods and th e p la n o f t h e u n iv e r s e . B ut o f t e n , t o o , t h e r e i s a s l y i r o n y i n t h e w ords o f th e h e ro e s a s th e y r e f u s e te m p tin g o f f e r s o r make l i g h t o f t h e i r d i f f i c u l t i e s .

29

M YTH LO RE 11

So Pw yll a r r i v e s a t th e w edding f e a s t o f Gwawl i n th e g u is e o f a b e g g a r w ith a b a s k e t - - a n i c e l y u n d e rp la y e d a r r i v a l a s t h r e e t im e s th e en ch an tm en t o f T a l i e s i n 's s t o r y - t e l l i n g makes th e g u e s ts o b l iv io u s o f th e n o i s e o f h i s o v e r th ro w in g o f g i a n t s and p i l i n g up o f t h e i r a rm o r. Gwawl i s d u ly t r a p p e d ; P w yll w ins h i s b r id e . But soon comes h i s second f a i l u r e . S e t t i n g f o r t h to w atch on G orsedd A rb e r th , he i s d i s t r a c t e d by a d iv in e sm ith he m ee ts on th e way; r e f u s in g a s p e a r and a s h i e l d , he i s a t l a s t tem p ted to a c c e p t a sw o rd --a n d so p ro v e s h im s e l f u n w o rth y ; an enemy th e n comes to th e la n d , and one o f t h e t h r e e B ird s o f R h ian o n , th e S in g e r s o f P e a c e , i s s t o l e n . A y e a r l a t e r , h e i s s e n t to w atch on G orsedd A rb e r th a g a in , w here v i s i o n s o f f l e e ­in g coun trym en and a t t a c k i n g a rm ie s tem p t him t o le a v e t i l l a t l a s t he c a n n o t b e a r t h e d is h o n o r o f i n a c t i o n . More so r ro w , and now two o f th e B ird s a r e gon e . L a s t ly , a f t e r th e b i r t h o f h i s son P r y d e r i , he i s tem p ted away by a v i s i o n o f R hianon r e p o r t i n g th e lo s s o f h i s so n ; and t h e r e a f t e r th e l a s t b i r d and th e c h i l d v a n is h ; R hianon (a s in th e o r i g i n a l ) i s a c c u se d o f d o in g away w ith h e r so n . Pw yll h im s e l f i s ta k e n away by C e rid w en , whose d e c e p t io n s had t e s t e d h im , and h i s m em ories p a s s from him .

The Im m o rta ls ta k e c o u n s e l a g a in : " D i f f i c u l t i t i s , t h i sr a i s i n g up o f Im m o r ta ls " - -b u t R hianon w i l l n o t hav e h e r m is s io n come to n o th in g : "You s h a l l hav e two Gods from t h i s la b o r o fm ine: P w yll Pen Annwn and P ry d e r i fa b P w y ll ." Though g r e a tso rro w s a w a it h e r , sh e a c c e p ts t h i s f a t e .

As i n t h e M a b in o g io n , T e y rn io n T w rf F l i a n t , King o f Gwent I s c o e d , f i n d s an i n f a n t boy d ro p p ed by h i s s t a b l e a s h e w a tc h e s t o p r e v e n t th e m a g ic a l d is a p p e a ra n c e o f t h e l a t e s t f o a l o f h i s g r e a t m are . But a g a in M o rr is h a s g iv e n th e Gods a hand in th e m a t t e r : th e y g iv e t h e k in g th e T h ree D rops o f Wisdom from th eC a u ld ro n o f C e rid w en . T h re e pow ers a r e g iv e n h im : t h e A r t o f War in t h e M id s t o f P e a c e , th e A r t o f P eace i n t h e M id s t o f War, and th e S p e l l o f th e Wood, t h e F i e ld and th e M o u n ta in : w i tht h e i r a id he overcom es th e e n c h a n tm e n ts s e t a g a i n s t him and s a v e s th e f o a l . I t w i l l b e t h e h o r s e o f th e young h e r o , who i s g iv e n th e name o f Gwri G w a llt E u ryn .

Two c h a p te r s now t e l l o f t h e t e s t i n g o f "The N am eless One w ith t h e M is f o r tu n e s ," who in t h i r t e e n y e a r s o f w a n d e rin g h a s known o n ly so r ro w , blam e and f a i l u r e . He m e e ts a b a rd who names to him a q u e s t f o r w hich h e seem s t o be t h e r i g h t man: one w ithno p r i d e in h im . The w a n d e re r p le d g e s n o t t o t u r n b a c k and n o t t o le a v e th e b a rd u n t i l t h e o t h e r s h a l l le a v e h im . Though h e i s s o r e l y p u t u p o n , he k e e p s f a i t h and comes a t l a s t t o t h e C a u ld ro n o f R e g e n e ra tio n , w here h i s f a t e i s made known t o him and h e who had been P w yll r e c e i v e s a new name: Manawyddan, son o f th e B o u n d le ss . H is com panion i s r e v e a le d a s Gwydion th e so n o f Don, t h e P r in c e o f Wisdom and L a u g h te r . He em barks now on h i s q u e s t , a t th e end o f w hich he may r e t u r n a t l a s t t o D yfed ; b u t t h a t i s th e s u b j e c t o f t h e n e x t vo lu m e, B ook o f th e T h ree D ragons.

H aving grown t o manhood and le a r n e d from h i s f o s t e r f a t h e r t h e T h ree U nusual A r t s , Gwri u n d e r ta k e s a q u e s t t o l e a r n h i s o r i g i n s . He comes t o t h e w e l l a t L la n d y b ie and t h e r e i s t o l d w hat m is s io n h e may u n d e r ta k e : t o r e c o v e r t h e B ird s o f R h ian o n ,th e S in g e r s o f B eau ty and P e a c e . A t a c a s t l e o f s l e e p in g g i a n t s he u s e s th e A r t o f War in t h e M id s t o f P eace and f r e e s one o f t h e b i r d s , Aden L anach . The o p p o s i t e a r t , u s e d a t a c a s t l e o f q u a r r e l i n g g i a n t s , f r e e s Aden L onach. The q u e s t o f Aden Fwynach p ro v e s lo n g e r and m ore d i f f i c u l t . F ig h t in g t h e r e i s w i th th e G u a rd ia n C lan o f t h e King o f B argod , who a r e t h e r e f o r th e t e s t i n g o f m e n - - " T i l l t h a t w h ich was man i s m ore th a n m an ." De­c e p t io n m ust be o vercom e. A t C aer H edd, t h e S p e l l o f t h e T h ree P la c e s f r e e s Aden Fw ynach, and th e men o f t h e c a s t l e , l i k e th o s e o f t h e o th e r tw o , a c c e p t t h e i r p a r t i n t h e p la n w hich t h e Immor­t a l s hav e o rd a in e d f o r them .

A l a s t q u e s t a w a i ts G w ri: t o go t o t h e a id o f R h ian o n .And b e f o re he d e p a r t s he l e a r n s t h e " p e c u l i a r i t i e s " o f t h e f i l ­l e t and th e g o ld e n r i n g t h a t w ere on him a t h i s f i n d in g and w hich he h a s n o t c e a s e d t o w e a r . W ith t h e f i l l e t he t a k e s t h e b u rd e n o f o ld ag e from an o ld man m et on th e r o a d , who th e n r e v e a l s h im s e l f a s Gwron, t h e H e a r te n e r o f H e ro e s , and s o a r s away in d ra g o n -fo rm . The r i n g r e s t o r e s t h e s i g h t o f a n o th e r , a g a in a god in d i s g u i s e : P len y d d th e S ig h t - G iv e r . L a s t l y , w i th in s i g h t o f t h e c i t y , comes a h a r p e r who g r e e t s him as P r y d e r i , and who i s r e c o g n iz e d a s A law n, t h e Lord o f H arm o n ies. (T hese a r e t h e T h ree D ragons o f th e o t h e r b o o k 's t i t l e : th e d ra g o n was t o M o rr is " th e sym bol o f s p i r i t u a l w isdom , s p i r i t u a l c o u ra g e , o f m a s te ry o f th e f o r c e s o f t h e lo w er w o r ld ." ) W ith h i s c o u n s e l he goes fo rw a rd to t h e p a l a c e w here he w i l l c o n f ro n t i t s u s u r p e r s . He r e s t o r e s y o u th and s i g h t t o h i s m o th e r R h ian o n , who had s a t a t th e p a la c e g a t e f o r tw e n ty y e a r s . To th e l a s t o f P w y l l 's men a t th e p a la c e he g iv e s y o u th and s t r e n g t h ; a s a " c r a f t s m a n b e a r in g h i s c r a f t " h e g a in s g ru d g in g a d m is s io n t o th e p a l a c e . But h i s c r a f t i s a n o th e r U nusual A r t : r e s t o r i n g th r o n e s to t h e i r r i g h t f u l o w n ers . None can p r e v a i l a g a i n s t h im ; th e s o v e r e ig n ty o f R hianon i s r e s t o r e d , and w ith t h e s in g in g o f th e B ird s o f R hianon t h e s t o r y comes t o an en d .

B00K OF THE THREE DRAGONS t a k e s up th e s t o r y o f Manawyddan, who i s n o t , a s in t h e T h ird B ranch o f th e M a b in o g i, a s e p a r a te p e r so n a g e who m a r r ie s a widowed R h ian o n , b u t

P w yll h im s e l f r e b o r n . H is t e s t i n g by Gwydion and h i s r e b i r t h i n t h e C a u ld ro n o f C eridw en a r e b r i e f l y t o l d — t h e r e a r e some d i f f e r ­e n c e s from th e o th e r v e r s i o n . The q u e s t f o r w h ich he i s n eed ed i s th e b r in g in g o f B ran th e B le s se d from th e I s l e s o f th e B le s se d t o be t h e Crowned King a t London. As a b o d i l e s s h ead h e g o es w ith t h e com p an io n s , who a r e th o s e named i n t h e Second B ran ch , a d a p te d t o M o r r i s 's p u rp o s e . No B ranw en, no w ar i n I r e l a n d : o n ly t h a t f i n a l voyage on w h ic h , a t G w alas i n P e n f ro , H e ily n o p en s th e f o rb id d e n d o o r . Unknown t o th e C om panions, t h e Gods had s e t in t h e c a s t l e t a l i s m a n s t o g u a rd them : t h e b r e a s t p l a t e o f P le n y d d , w hich i s th e n s t o l e n by T a th a l C h e a t - th e - L ig h t , and t h e h a rp o f Alawn— s t o l e n by Gwiawn C a t 's - E y e th e S e a - T h ie f . The two gods can now s e rv e n e i t h e r gods n o r men u n t i l t h e t r e a s u r e s s h a l l be r e c o v e r e d .

S a d ly th e Com panions b u ry th e head o f Bran and s e p a r a t e — and from t h i s p o in t t h e s t o r y i s a g a in t h e a u t h o r 's in v e n t io n , w orked up from nam es, h i n t s i n o ld b o o k s , and h i s r e - c r e a t i o n o f d r u i d i c p h i lo s o p h y . F or nam es, th e s t o r y o f Culhwch and Olwen i s th e r i c h e s t s o u r c e , w i th i t s trem en d o u s l i s t : T a th a l i s b u t one o f them .

Manawyddan d e s i r e s t o r e t u r n t o D yfed , b u t i s g u id e d to th e Cave o f th e T r i a l s , w here t h e l o s s e s a r e made known t o h im . He

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FINDER OF THE WELSH GODS

i s te m p te d w ith c o m p an io n sh ip among th e Im m o rta ls and f o r g e t t i n g o f t h e c a r e s o f t h e w o r ld , b u t p e r c e iv e s t h a t t h e r e i s a t a s k f o r him and r e f u s e s . He w akes from h i s v i s i o n and soon th e f i r s t t a s k i s made known t o h im . He f o l lo w s Aden L anach t o th e s e a s h o r e , w here a m a g ic a l b o a t t a k e s him to t h e I s l e o f Ewinwen S ea-Q u een , who i s r e a d y t o t u r n him t o s t o n e - a s o th e r h e r o e s hav e b e e n t r a n s ­form ed t h e r e . But he c o u n te r s h e r e n c h a n tm e n ts w ith t h e m agic o f s t o r y - t e l l i n g and so n g . Seem ing t r e a s u r e s h e r e f u s e s and c la im s o n ly a le a d e n d i s k — w hich i s o f c o u r s e t h e o b j e c t he s e e k s .Q u ick ly he d e f e a t s Ewinwen and T a t h a l ; and P len y d d comes t o him i n d ra g o n -fo rm . The b r e a s t p l a t e s h a l l be h i s w h i le h e n e e d s i t on h i s q u e s t .

On a n o th e r m a g ic a l b o a t Manawyddan comes f a c e t o f a c e w ith Gwiawn, b u t t h e i r b a t t l e o f e n c h a n tm e n ts i s a s t a n d o f f . The g lo v e s o f Gwron a r e n eed ed t o c a tc h and h o ld t h e t h i e f , b u t th e y m ust be e a rn e d th ro u g h a rd u o u s s e r v i c e to t h e God. So Manawyddan goes f o r t h t o l e a r n t h r e e c r a f t s — S u b t le S hoem aking , S u b t le S h ie ld m a k in g , and S u b t le Sw ordm aking— s e e k in g o u t t h e r i g h t m a s te r s and p a t i e n t l y d o in g them s e r v i c e . L a s t l y , on t h e way to p r e s e n t th e sw ord to Gwron, he m ee ts w ith a c h i e f t a i n who t e l l s him o f a d ra g o n t h a t b a r s t h e way a h e a d . He c a n n o t r e f u s e t h e e n c o u n te r , b u t i s h e a d e q u a te ly arm ed? O nly th e sw ord h e i s b e a r in g p ro v e s good enough; and th e c h i e f t a i n g iv e s him sh o e s and s h i e ld o f t h e S u b t le M aking; t h e s e p ro v e i n t h e end t o b e h i s own w ork. F o rw ard he g o es and e n d u re s se v e n d a y s o f f i g h t i n g w ith t h e d ra g o n , who i s in d e e d Gwron Gawr, H e a r te n e r o f H e ro e s .At l a s t Manawyddan h a s e a rn e d th e G lo v e s .

He i s conveyed in a n o th e r m agic c r a f t t o t h e d o o r o f U f f e r n , th e v e r y u n d e rw o rld , w hich h e f o r c e s , f in d in g t h e r e e n c h a n te d a rm ie s , g i a n t s t h a t w ere k in g s o f o ld , and b a r d s — a l l tu r n e d to s to n e . Gwiawn comes t o o p p o se h im , m agic s p e l l a g a i n s t s p e l l .In h i s f i n a l p u r s u i t o f Gwiawn, Manawyddan th ro w s o u t h i s t r e a ­s u r e s , one by o n e , t o slo w him down a n d , w ith b u t one sh o e and one g lo v e , c a tc h e s him a t t h e l a s t . He f o r c e s him t o d i v e s t h im s e l f o f h i s t h i e v i s h n e s s and th e n t o p la y on t h e h a rp a s p e l l o f aw aken ing t o t h e w a r r i o r s . Then h e t a k e s t h e h a rp h im s e l f t o o p p o se t h e s o r c e r i e s o f t h e u n d e rw o r ld , and a t t h e end Alawn h im s e l f comes t o w ie ld i t and do away w ith a l l t h e t e r r o r s o f h e l l . So th e s t o r y o f M anaw yddan's w an d e rin g e n d s .

NOTHING LIKE THESE STORIES h a s b e e n w r i t t e n in t h i s c e n ­t u r y . E .R .E d d is o n 's work m ig h t s ta n d c o m p a r iso n , th o u g h th e s o u r c e s o f h i s s t y l e a r e d i f f e r e n t : he to o d e a l t in

h e r o ic a c t i o n and d iv in e p u rp o s e . But t h e e x p l o i t s o f h i s Demons a r e by c o m p a riso n on a human s c a l e , and h i s gods in Z im iam via do n o t n eed men a s a l l i e s i n f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r p u rp o s e .We do n o t f in d th e s y s te m a t ic t e s t i n g o f t h e H ero , n o r t h e h y p e r ­b o le , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f f o l k t a l e . To e n jo y M o rr is we m ust a c c e p t t h a t and th e c o n v e n tio n t h a t a H ero can n e v e r be a n y th in g b u t h e r o ic . A c t io n , n o t c h a r a c t e r , i s t h e c e n t e r o f i n t e r e s t .

Some p a r t o f th e F i r s t B ranch h a s b een t o l d by E v a n g e lin e W alton in T he Song o f R h ia n n o n . P r in c e o f Annwn now a d d s P w y l l 's s t r u g g le i n Annwn and th e w edding f e a s t , h i s d e c e p t io n and c o u n te r d e c e p t io n . P o i n t - f o r - p o i n t co m p ariso n i s im p o s s ib le , so d i f f e r e n t l y hav e th e two b u i l t on t h e i r common f o u n d a t io n . In M iss W a lto n 's b le n d in g o f p a s s io n , w i l l and f a t e , th e f i r s t two seem t o b e p a ram o u n t. H ere i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o s e e P w yll/M ana- wyddan and G w r i/P ry d e r i a s c h a r a c t e r s i n d i v i d u a l i z e d by t h e i r p a s s io n and w i l l . K in g ly p r id e r u l e s P w y ll, b u t when he su c c e e d s a t C elyddon and f a i l s a t G orsedd A r b e r th , t h e t e m p ta t io n s a r e s im p ly g iv e n a s r e s i s t i b l e o r i r r e s i s t i b l e , a s t h e p a t t e r n o f th e s t o r y r e q u i r e s . The work o f M o r r is , w i th i t s d iv in e "m ach in ­e ry ," i s n e a r e r to e p ic and f a r t h e r from t r a g e d y . I t h a s a s o a r in g o p tim ism , w h ile M iss W a lto n 's i s b ro o d in g and f u l l o f p o r t e n t s , m ost o f a l l i n P rin c e o f Annum, w here some p a s s a g e s m atch th e w o rs t o f L o v e c ra f t .

IT WOULD NOT BE HARD t o t e l l t h a t th e s t o r i e s o f The S e c r e t M ounta in a r e from th e same h a n d — e s p e c i a l l y when th e same myth a p p e a rs in s e v e r a l . Men i n t h e i r s u c c e s s iv e e n so u lm e n ts a r e

t r a v e l e r s on th e ro a d to w ard v i c t o r y , w i th th e G ods, a g a i n s t th e f o r c e s o f Chaos on th e b o r d e r s o f S p ace . "T he L a s t A d v e n tu re s o f Don Q u ix o te " shows th e t r a n s f i g u r a t i o n o f one g r e a t s o u l in such a b a t t l e . V a r lo n F f la m la s i n t h e t i t l e s t o r y f i n d s h i s q u e s t ta k in g him b ack to B abylon w here he was a s l a v e and so t o c a p ­t i v i t y and d e a th — g iv in g th e Gods a v i c t o r y . "The D iv in a Commedia o f Evan Leyshon" i s th e s o u l - jo u r n e y o f a d y in g man. " D a f f o d i l , " a p r in c e s s o f H eaven , s a c r i f i c e s h e r s e l f f o r t h e sa k e o f th e c o r r u p t S p i r i t o f th e E a r th .

In t h e l a s t two t h e r e i s a b i t to o much in v e ig h in g . But I g r e a t l y l ik e d "The King and th e T h ree A s c e t i c s , " i n w hich th e t h r e e a r e n o t s u r e i f A tid h a n v a n S an ak a , b e a r in g th e two and t h i r t y m arks o f p e r f e c t b i r t h and th e b ir th m a rk s o f th e C h a k ra v a r t in , t r u l y knows T h a t Brahman. "T he S a in t and th e

F o r e s t Gods" t e l l s o f a g e n t l e c o n v e r s io n . " S io n ap S ie n c y n " : a husbandm an h e a r s t h e B ird s o f R hianon and c e n t u r i e s p a s s .The f is h e rm a n Wang Tao-C hen c o n v e r s e s w ith t h e S ag es i n "R ed- P each -B lo sso m I n l e t " and becom es th e w i s e s t o f m i n i s t e r s . In " The Rose and th e Cup" a widowed C e n tr a l A s ia n q u een f i n d s a m ira c u lo u s ransom t o o f f e r a c o n q u e ro r . "The A p p les o f K now ledge" g iv e wisdom — and so rro w — t o two c o n te n d in g k in g s o f a n c i e n t t im e s .

The s t y l e c a r r i e s a l l t h e s e s t o r i e s — a s i s t r u e o f D unsany — and i t i s a m ore v ig o ro u s s t y l e , f r e e o f i r o n y . M o rr is d id n o t t r i f l e w i th h i s f a n c i e s ; h e d id n o t in v e n t gods f o r a jo k e ; th e D u n san ian le td o w n i s a b s e n t h e r e . An i n s p i r i t i n g w r i t e r , a s o u r a n a l y t i c a l f i c t i o n i s t s a r e n o t . I do n o t b e l i e v e w ith them t h a t o u rs i s a p e t t y a g e , w i th P ru f ro c k a s i t s sym bo l. I n t e r e s t i n g how f a n t a s y c a n a s s e r t t h e c o n t r a r y w i th o u t e v e r s a y in g a n y th in g a b o u t t h e sh a p e o f t h i s o r an y o t h e r h i s t o r i c a l t im e . The Age o f H ero es h a s n e v e r d ie d .

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An e a r l ie r v e r s io n o f t h i s p a p e r w as r e a d a t M ythcon V.

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